Pierre Dartout confirmed that a new bowling alley will be opening its doors in the area, during a National Council meeting on 12 December. Monaco’s Minister of State also noted that the future shopping centre in Fontvieille will be home to a new cinema.
According to the Minister of State, the premises located on the ground floor of the ZAC Saint-Antoine real estate complex is now reserved for the construction of the new bowling alley.
Ni Box bowling alley is sorely missed by Monaco’s youth
The Ni Box leisure centre, which opened in 2010, had a skating rink, a bowling alley, a video games area, a discotheque, and catering outlets, with preferential rates for young people enrolled in Monegasque schools. The demolition of its 3,000m2 over five floors was made public during a municipal council meeting in the summer of 2021.
Before the establishment was destroyed, the Minister of State reassured the public that a new location was identified on the ground floor of the ZAC Saint-Antoine in Cap d’Ail, in October 2021. But twelve months later, no candidate had been selected to operate the new centre.
After Ni Box, the only multi-leisure place in the Principality, was flattened, Monaco’s youth had to venture to France or Italy to find the same level of entertainment. (The old Ni Box site will be home to a new co-working space, set to open in the spring of 2024.)
National Councillors voted on a new bowling alley in 2022
During the 2022 amending budget, the issue of a new bowling alley was raised by national councillors, who were concerned that the bowling alley project initially planned for Cap d’Ail was dragging on and that no favourable prospects were being given.
New bowling alley to be constructed “as soon as possible”
When will the new bowling alley open its doors? That, for now, remains unknown, as selected contractors are in the process of finalizing their studies. But, according to Pierre Dartout, construction is expected to begin “as soon as possible.”
